This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Lennox. All opinions are 100% mine.

We moved to Ohio in late summer last year, just before fall weather arrived. This is our first real summer in our new home and our first summer as homeowners. Being homeowners means lots of new fun things like planting a garden, getting a trampoline in our backyard and being able to decorate our home however we want for holidays. But it also means being introduced to and responsible for a whole new collection of things that as renters we never had to think about. Like mowing the lawn 😉 There is so much to being a homeowner that is new to us. We’ve learned how to repair basic things, how to seed our lawn, how to tackle some DIY projects around the house, and how to hire help when our needs are beyond our skill level. Moving to Ohio from Los Angeles, we’ve also had to learn how to prepare our home for real seasons. With this being the first summer in our home, we had to learn how to prepare our home for the summer season, and we had to learn fast since we basically went straight from Ohio winter to LA summer. Here are a few things we’ve learned about how to prep our home for the summer months.

Check Your Air Conditioner

The last thing you want is your central A/C dying in the middle of July, right? Check and make sure your A/C system is working properly. before summer hits. Change the air filter, clean your vents, and clear the area around the unit of grass clippings, leaves, or shrubbery. It is a good idea to call in a professional who can clean your unit and can test it to make sure your system is summer ready. You might also consider replacing your thermostat, especially if you don’t have a programmable thermostat. If you are looking to replace your thermostat, consider a smart thermostat like the like the iComfort® ultra smart thermostat from Lennox. The smart technology allows you to override your programming while on Smart Away Mode with a single touch to help you save energy. It is even compatible with smart home systems, such as Amazon Alexa, so you can use your voice to control your HVAC system.

Ensure High Air Quality

Old and poorly maintained HVAC units can do more than fail to keep you cool — they can make you sick. Inspect your air ducts to make sure there is no visible mold or dust build-up. Making sure you change your air filters more frequently during hot months when your HVAC is working overtime is super important. Adding a good air purification system also helps tremendously, because it isn’t just pollutants, but also ventilation and humidity levels that effects a home’s air quality. The PureAir™ Air Purification System from Lennox cleans the air in your home better than any other single system you can buy. Single-area air cleaners may help the air in one room, but they don’t address pollutants that can circulate throughout your entire home. PureAir™ is a whole-home solution that means cleaner air in every room. Many air cleaning systems filter out particles. Some combat germs, and some fight odors. But only the PureAir™ Air Purification System addresses all three types of indoor air pollutants: Airborne particles, germs & bacteria, and chemical odors & vapors.

Change Ceiling Fan Direction

Did you know that your ceiling fan is designed to rotate in different directions depending on the season? I didn’t! In summer you should make sure your fans are running counter-clockwise to cool and create a breeze, while in winter it should rotate clockwise to distribute the heat that has risen properly.

Prevent Potential Water Damage

Rainy months and a hot and humid climate can be a recipe for disaster when you’re a homeowner. We had to figure out where our sump pump is and what to do if our power goes out and it fails (the con of having a basement among many pros). We also had to get a dehumidifier for the basement and have to empty it frequently during the humid summer season. We had to check our gutter and downspouts to make sure rain will drain off our home and away from our home’s perimeter properly. Since we had our home inspected when we purchased it, we knew the roof and foundation were in good condition but if you haven’t had a recent inspection it is a good idea to have those checked as well. We had our chimney inspected in the winter before we used our fireplace and learned that we needed a new rain pan. Had we not caught that it could have collapsed during a heavy rain and allowed water to flood our home through our chimney and fireplace. Having a healthy and safe home is the most important thing to us, and these are a few ways we have protected and prepared our home for the hot and humid summer months. Stay tuned for a follow-up post when winter rolls back around, which I’m in denial about already. Are you a homeowner? If so, what steps do you take to protect your family and prepare your home for the changing seasons?